Odds and Ends: Benson, Schilling, Bush

Let's kick off the morning with some odds and ends.

• The Phillies are still talking to Kris Benson's agent.  It might make sense to wrap things up today, because he's scheduled to throw for other teams tomorrow.  Seems like Benson is in line for a Major League deal.
• The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo doesn't think the Red Sox lose much with Curt Schilling being out a half-season.  He adds that the Sox have the goods to make a trade if the '08 rotation is lacking.  Cafardo throws out C.C. Sabathia's name, though Indians GM Mark Shapiro has basically said he won't trade his ace.  Ken Rosenthal does think Theo Epstein might add pitching, perhaps with Coco Crisp.
• Matt Bush was picked first overall as a shortstop in the 2004 draft.  Always fun to second-guess - what if the Padres had taken Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, or Phil Hughes instead?  Bush didn't hit as a shortstop and the Padres switched him to the mound in May of '07.  By August he needed Tommy John surgery.  Despite this, the Braves expressed interest in trading for him. 

Comments

[WhiteSoxFan]

This may help the Red Sox; Schilling can be rested for the strech run and playoffs.

[TribeFan06]

hmm..... i think a buchholz/ Ellisbury trade would change shapiros mind :p

[MetFanBen]

Hasn't Beane said he likes Crisp? Maybe Crisp could be involved in a trade for Blanton

[Andy Braves Fan]

Whitesoxfan, not to contradict you, but from the reports I have heard Schilling won't be pitching this year at all. A stretch run/playoff run would even be out of the question.

What does Rosenthal think the Sox could realistically get for a CF with plus speed who can't hit and despite his ability to get to balls in the OF, has a pop gun arm? I mean, with today's pitching market the Sox certainly aren't going to get much with Coco. Maybe a AAA prospect with lower upside.

As for the Braves picking up Matt Bush, I have no idea why Wren would make such a move, though it can't hurt unless he trades one of the Braves better prospects. Any idea who the Padres want?

[mac_1103]

"Hasn't Beane said he likes Crisp? Maybe Crisp could be involved in a trade for Blanton"

Has Beane really said that he likes Crisp? And does liking him mean he wants him? Because it doesn't really seem like a Beane move to take back a $10M contract when he's in full out rebuilding mode.

[Andy Braves Fan]

Perhaps Beane would take Crisp, but he wouldn't be the key component in a deal for Blanton. Masterson and Lowrie would have to be included.

[Andy Braves Fan]

In which case the Sox might as well have sent Lester along and gotten Santana instead.

[oxfrat1665]

The Padres would probably take $57 and a case of beer for Matt Bush at this point. And Wren is a savvy guy that knows what he is doing. If he wants Bush then he must see some sort of use for him.

[start_wearing_purple]

mac, Beane is on the record for saying he likes Crisp, the defense and speed aspect is key for a Beane coveted CF. I can see a Coco + Masterson or Lowrie + cash for Blanton trade going down but Beane will ask for more at which point Theo will walk away. Frankly Blanton is no where near the worth that Beane is shopping him for.

Boston isn't hurting and still has decent depth in the starting pitching department. The rotation now stands as Beckett, Matsuzaka, Lester, Wakefield, Buchholz with Tavarez as a potential 6th man. I'm not saying it's the greatest situation but Tavarez did a decent job as fifth man last year and Pauley and Hansack are available in the minors as stop gaps. Of course if Beckett goes down the Red Sox will start wishing they made the Santana deal.

[mac_1103]

I know that Beane likes speed and defense in CF, but when push came to shove the A's played Nick Swisher out there an awful lot. I just hadn't heard anything about Beane coveting Crisp from the horse's mouth, as it were. And yeah, that would be a ton to give up for Blanton. And that's coming from a Yankee fan who feels morally obligated to maintain that Crisp, Masterson and Lowrie are all way over-rated.

[Zebraheaded]

Schill's personal doctor (Morgan) was on WEEI in Boston this morning, and he claimed that *with* the surgery, Curt would be back "around the All-Star break."

The problem is the Sox disagree about how long the recovery time on the surgery would be, and they believe that he'd be back after the All-Star break with just rehab.

So, both camps believe he'd be back after the break (probably early August). The reports about him being out all year is just the Sox opinion on the surgery rehab.

Morgan also spoke with Rob Bradford this morning on the same issue: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view.bg?articleid=1071967

[start_wearing_purple]

Ultimately with Schilling's injury the only real side effects you'll see are: Buchholz is now garuenteed to start in Boston's rotation (he'll likely still be limited to 150-170 innings and Francona is extra conservative with his young arms) and Tavarez won't be traded (getting 15+ starts this years seems possible).

[themetros]

Crisp is exactly the type of guy Beane values regardless of rebuilding or competing. If he has young pitchers, he sees a ton of value in spectacular defense to help them out.

Bad defense behind a young guy is not exactly a great way to allow them to get confident. Also, is $5m per season all that much in baseball terms?

I love Lowrie, but Beane would not be out of his mind to ask for Lowrie and Crisp.

[start_wearing_purple]

metros, you got a good point. Lowrie + Crisp + cash would make a good bounty for the A's. Lowrie could fill in for Crosby when he's injured (and when is he not) and he could take over second next year when Ellis' contract comes up.

[moebarguy]

Considering Matt Bush is only 21 years-old, and had success in his first stint as a pitcher, I don't see why the Padres would trade him away. Granted, he only pitched 7.6 IP, but he struck out 16 batters, only walked 2, and posted a 1.17 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He was certainly a terrible first pick, but he still has age on his side, and the talent to become a power-pitching reliever. That's worth more than "$57 and a case of beer" (unless it's some really good beer, like Hoegaarden).

[WhiteSoxFan]

Andy Braves Fan, I was referencing what the article said about Schilling:

"Yet, even the skeptics hoped that at age 41, Schilling could simply do what he did in 2007: give the Red Sox a shot in the arm when it really counted, as he did upon returning last August after a lengthy shoulder-strengthening program. "

I agree that he may be out for the year, but the Red Sox are going to try to get him ready for the second half.

[Padre]

Blanton is o.k. for a 4th or 5th spot. Last year he went 14 and 10 in 34 games as a starter. 3.95 e.r.a, maybe with a more potent lineup he might have won more. He averages around 6 plus innings a start. Crisp and Lowrie plus cash o.k. with me

[el clash combo]

PRO:
- Schilling rehabs well and is in fresh shape to pitch the 2nd half.
- Buccholz pitches a limited 1st half season (in combo with Tavares?).
- Buccholz 'rests' in Triple A until Sept. call ups.

CON:
- Schilling doesn't return at all.
- If he does, he remains a wild card in terms of durability.
- Buccholz stays in Triple A for the 1st half.
- Tavarez/Hansack fill in for the year.
- We purchase a sub-quality #4 or #5 starter.
- Hope Beckett, Dice K, Wakefield hold up (and excel) for the year.

[metafrantic]

Joe Blanton's career numbers:

Home: 3.55 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .251 BAA
Away: 4.66 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, .290 BAA
At Fenway (4 starts): 4.26 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, .289 BAA

The Red Sox should not give up a ton for this guy; certainly not what Beane is asking. He demanded Homer Bailey+ or Joey Votto+ from the Reds, that's way too much. He'd probably ask for Ellsbury+ or Lester+ from the Sox, and they were barely willing to give that up for Johan Santana.

I think the Red Sox could get similar production to Blanton's away numbers from a combination of Tavarez/Snyder/Masterson/Hansack. And that's assuming they get nothing at all from Schilling.

[jrfukudome]

"Schilling rehabs well and is in fresh shape to pitch the 2nd half." That's a joke, right? Even as a possibility.

[themetros]

RE: Bush...

It was a horrible pick at the time and everyone knew it.

That being said, he is not that far removed from pitching in high school. Stashing him in your back pocket for a while would not be a bad thing as the kid can chuck. Mid 90's heater and a nice hook. Put him in the pen and you can try and fast track him.

But whatever little the Braves would be willing give would make it not worth it for the Padres unless he is a throw in.

The odds are stacked against him though, but just forget his name for a few years and he might shock people.

[Joe]

I think if the Cubs trade Pie and Gallager for Roberts, we could trade Marshall for Crisp. Crisp would replace Pie, and the Red Sox would get their 6th pitcher. So if Bucholtz is not ready at the begining of the season, they could use Marshall.

[Devlsh]

If you ask me, the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo is just fronting for the Red Sox when he says they won't lose much if he's out a half season. Frankly, I'm not convinced anybody's telling the truth re Schilling. Naturally, if he IS going to be out indefinitely, it's in the club's best interest to downplay his injury so other clubs don't hold them for ransom. At the same time, I strongly suspect the Red Sox are indeed exploring options. Given the questionable nature of Wakefield's shoulder and how green both Lester and Buchholz are, I doubt Boston wants to cross their fingers and hope everything turns out well...or that they really want Tavarez to make ANY starts.

[maximumpotential]

i expect Boston to sign one of Livan, Loshe, Weaver and trade Crisp & J.Lopez for Embree & Denorfia